December 5
The City Council recognized the end of the term for outgoing Mayor Sally Meadows. The council elected Jonathan Weinberg to serve a one-year term as mayor and Pete Daily to serve as vice mayor.
Under the consent calendar, the council authorized staff, as part of SB1383 (2016)), to submit a CalRecycle Grant application for a non-competitive additional funding grant to help local jurisdictions reduce emissions of climate pollutants by decreasing organic waste disposal 75% by 2025. The legislation also made provision to rescue at least 20% of currently disposed surplus food for people to eat by 2025.
In November 2021, the Los Altos updated its code to comply with the State’s goal by developing new and augmented organics and recycling programs. The staff can apply for all grants which the city is eligible for the next five years. Staff intends to direct this funding to include increased organic waste product recovery and edible food recovery.
December 12
Mayor Jonathan D. Weinberg accepted a check from State Senator Josh Becker in the amount of $200,000 from the State of California general funds to augment sustainable improvements for downtown Los Altos. The senator congratulated the city for the projects that Green Town Los Altos has already adopted.
The City Council directed staff to prepare amendments to the municipal code to improve wireless connectivity in Los Altos and specifically downtown. Residents and businesses have expressed a desire for greater mobile connectivity in the downtown triangle. Poor connectivity affects the city’s ability to attract visitors downtown, the ability of residents to conduct normal activities, and businesses to conduct business activities. Of the options researched by staff, small cell wireless installations won’t function properly downtown due to building heights. A public WiFi network is challenging for the City to install on private buildings because of high infrastructure installation costs. Also, it would be difficult to manage and maintain a network used by many private businesses.
Staff has suggested two sections to improve in the current municipal code: regulations on types of wireless telecommunications facilities and guidelines regarding the location of such facilities. These recommended changes may induce cellular companies to install facilities in and around downtown that will improve service in that area.
Claire Noonan, Observer